The legends on warp records and ninja tune were what got me into electronic music. That kind of artsy thoughtful, intelligent music feels so transcendent, subtle, and emotional. I also really love EDM for it's in yo face power, simplicity, adrenaline, and "in the moment" fun-ness. I have for the past year been very unproductive musically because I can't reconcile these two things. They just don't work together in my brain due to the way they kind of reject each other on a philosophical level. When you put the two together it doesn't become both, it becomes something else that doesn't feel right. What are you're guy's thoughts? I'm probably way over thinking this.

My point is, there's a ton of IDM you can dance like an idiot to. Rephlex Records' whole reason for existing was to promote braindance - music that appeals to both heads and feet. Obviously you're not going to find an electro house version of Boards of Canada, or a Eurobeat version of Autechre, but if you draw a Venn diagram of IDM and EDM, the overlap is a lot bigger than you think.

Thank you for the response, it provides a lot of perspective from a fellow appreciator of IDMesqué music. I've always heard of the "braindance" thing but never really knew what it meant until now. Thanks again.

P.S. downvoted why? The relationship between music that takes you places vs celebrating the moment is very a legitimate topic IMO.

If your songs don't feel right, it isn't because IDM and EDM reject each other on a philosophical level; that doesn't make any sense to me.

Genres are not real. They are simply classifications used to describe similar music. Any song can transcend as many genres as you like. They only exist out of the necessity to have words that describe a particular range of sound.

You are over thinking this.

To make a dance hit you will probably have to sacrifice complexity in certain areas (like the kick drum rhythm). But there is always room for infinite amounts of subtle detail.

The bassist from Bad Brains recently said in Bass Player Mag that if you want to incorporate many different genres of music together, it's really important to know their differences.

Of course music is universal; but the things that make punk rock sound like punk rock (simple power chords/speed/backbeat) are often at odds with the things that make reggae work ( sweeter chords/ slow grooves/downbeat).

Don't be afraid to synthesize styles, but throwing an IDM rhythm to a dance floor might break some ankles. Instead maybe pay tribute to your IDM during intros and build ups, or to your EDM in your song structures.

From what you've written it sounds like you are being too critical on the genre rather than allowing music to pour out of your brain... Focus on the moment. Whatever feels good at that point in time should be what is expressed in the product of your DAW. If you feel a fat distorted bass line drop in your mind and body write it down and make it happen. If you feel like making a flowing beautiful transcendental melody, throw that into your DAW.

There is plenty of "IDM" that is very danceable. I also listen to and enjoy lots of techno that is very IDM-influenced and it works great. Listen to anything by Xhin or Lucy for example. Then again I wouldn't call that "EDM" but that's a weird subjective term anyway that means different things to different people. I think you probably need to try expanding your listening horizons and figure out what you like- there's plenty of cool music being made that's danceable and you would probably like if you liked stuff on warp.

My listening horizon is very broad already, the issue is more trying to bring all those influences together, sometimes they only work in their original context. But thanks for the recs I'll be sure to check them out. I also realize terms like IDM and EDM are very subjective, but you know what I mean when I say them.

wow its crazy to hear (see?) this put into words as it is exactly how i feel. it's something i struggle with a lot, coming from listening to amon tobin aphex twin fortet etc way before the EDM wave hit i struggle a lot with feeling like i'm "selling out" to appeal to the masses. it's a tricky thing with no easy answer but at the end of the day i guess you really just have to roll with what you like and analyze why you're listening to/creating what you're creating. if you're creating music to bring people together and have a fun time then do it. if you're creating music to let people sink into their own minds then do it. i know what you mean about how the two can't completely over-lap, but theres a good bit of wiggle room. start something new!

EDM = "electronic dance music". This differentiates from electronic music only in respect to the dancability of the music (not all electronic music is dancable).

IDM = "intelligent dance music" is often a misnomer, because you can't really dance to all of it (sometimes you can). It's more of a genre like rock or punk (in that the style is not dependent upon dance) instead of an umbrella genre like EDM (where dance is part of the name).

EBM = "electro body music" is actually a form of industrial, but is usually dance music, but often doesn't differ that greatly from modern dance music or IDM.

I would not say that these 3 genres are mutually exclusive in any way. You could probably have a song that is classified as all 3.

Can't you do both? Maybe not all in a single track but just work on one style of music, next track make different, then work on whichever style suits your mood. There is plenty of 'intelligent' EDM these days, much more than there used to be. Thinking about how you've been unproductive because of conflicting philosophies or whatever sounds like a form of procrastination, as well as justification for other procrastination you may have been doing.

OK, I like listening to some of what is called "IDM", but I have a different attitude to you. This is my personal opinion, it's not right or wrong, just my own view.

Yes, you are overthinking it. To me, there is no such fucking thing as IDM or EDM. The concept of IDM really irritates me philosophically. I think the premise is completely bullshit.

That kind of artsy thoughtful, intelligent music feels so transcendent, subtle, and emotional.

Take of your rose-tinted hipster glasses for a moment dude!

What are the features which distinguish IDM as "intelligent" and "emotional"? Complex rhythms? Softer and quirkier timbres? Not being funky and danceable? Well sorry, I think that is a very wankerish approach. A lot of what is called "IDM" is in fact an incoherent mess which goes nowhere and instead relies on stylistic complexity. A lot of the music is interesting to listen to, but I don't take anything away from it "emotionally". It's complex, but that doesn't mean anything.

If you can't say something simply, then you don't understand it well enough. Einstein said that, but it totally applies to music and other forms of art as well.

In contrast, I find a lot of house music to be far more 'emotionally intelligent'. Elegance in simplicity is what I love. Take a feeling or an idea and go with it. That's way more "subtle". To me, recontextualising something in a revolutionary way, for example, is far more artful than coming up with a super complex rhythm. Daft Punk are masters of this. Frankie Knuckles was a master of this. That tune is incredibly simple, yet so much more emotionally powerful than any IDM piece that I've ever heard.

Yeah. I said in the first paragraph that it's one opinion. Of course taste is completely subjective. It's not necessary to tell me that his opinion is equally valid as I implied that myself.

Secondly, I'm not talking down the music, I'm talking down the popular conception that IDM is somehow intrinsically better or more considered, which the name implies. I loathe that idea, and I think it's nothing more than a nerdy social prestige. Calling a genre of music 'intelligent' is basically the dumbest fucking thing I've ever heard, and I'm just trying to articulate that.

But personally, yes, I do think a lot of "IDM" is shit and not intelligent at all, and I explained why. Could have left that out, sure, but it's totally relevant so I didn't.

I'd say just produce different kinds of music. Feel like making a banging dance track? Do it. Then make a progressive house track or whatever. It keeps things fresh and you don't lock yourself into a certain style. I noticed most of my favorite music makers do different kinds of tunes often. But trying to blend these things in one song will likely not work out. The song needs a solid direction or it risks coming out mediocre, confused or just crappy.

Maybe you can look at like this. One puts more weight in theory and gypsyness, and the other in rhythm and animal nature. Mind vs. body. The superego and the ID, and in between is the ego. Maybe i'm just making shit up and I have no idea what I'm talking about.